Tubular thrust propeller

ABSTRACT

A thrust producing device including a hollow tube carrying a shaft and a propeller, the tube having water scoops for the entrance of water into the tube and a gear driven propeller shaft is included in the tube so that the motor will rotate the propeller.

United States Patent Koons [451 Apr. 25, 1972 [54] TUBULAR THRUSTPROPELLER [72] Inventor: A. Eugene Koons, Proctor Star Route,

Williamsport, Pa. 17701 [22] Filed: Aug. 27, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 67,428

52 us. c1 ..115/42 [51] Int. Cl.,... ..B63h 5/16 [58] Field of Search..115/42, 12 A; 60/221 222 [56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS2,136,628 11/1938 Lundell ..115/42 2,965,065 12/1960 Tinker ..60/2213,149,605 9/1964 Broadwell ..1 15/42 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS'l,284,170 1/1962 France ..1l5/l2 A Primary E raminen-Andrew I-l.Farrell Attorney-Brady, OBoyle & Gates [5?] I, ABSTRACT A thrustproducing device including a hollow .tube carrying a shaft and apropeller, the tube having water scoops for the en-' trance of waterinto the tube and a gear'driven propeller shaft is included in the tubeso that the motor will rotate the propeller.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures FATENTEBAPR 25 19?? 3,658 O28 INV/iN'l UH A.fqyene Koans 1. TUBULAR THRUST PROPELLER This invention relates topropulsion devices, and more particularly to a propulsion device forboats and the like.

It is therefore the primary purpose of this invention to provide atubular thrust propeller for outboard and inboard boats which willprovide less water turbulence as compared with propulsion units of theprior art and the device will impart greater steering control for theboat it is attached to.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed which will have the propeller on the internal part of the tubethus protecting the propeller from rocks, mud, ice or other submergedobstructions.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device for boatswhich will have intake water scoops allowing for the water to be drawnintothe tube and the forward portion of the tube will be conical inshape so as to reduce drag and to guide the tube pass any obstructionsand the device will also have an air intake tube.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a tubular.

thrust propeller which will have rudder means secured to the exterior ofthe tube to increase the maneuverability of the boat that the device isattached to.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a tubular thrustpropeller which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, ruggedin construction, easy to use and efficient form of the invention.

According to this invention, a tubular thrust propeller is shownto,include a tubular member 11 having oppositely opv posed water inletscoops l2. Tubular member 11 is provided with a conical end 13 forreducing water drag and providing guide means against underwaterobstacles.

Tubular member 11 also includes an open end 14 from which the water isexpelled. The shaft housing15 of outboard motor 16 is secured fixedly tothe top of tube 11 and carries the drive shaft 17 which has attached toits end a bevel gear 18. Gear 18 engages a similar gear 19 which isfixedly secured to the propeller shaft 20.

Also secured to propeller shaft 20 is the propeller blade 21 on theinterior of tube 11. A vertical and hollow tube 22 is provided with aplurality of openings 23 near its upper extremity and the lowerextremity is provided with an opening 24 on the interior of tube 11,tube 22 providing air intake means for tube 11 when motor 16 is inoperation.

At the open end 14 of tube 11 is fixedly secured a lug 25. A rod 26 isattached to lug 25 and one end is attached at its other end to a collar27, lug 25, rod 26 and collar 27 are secured by means of suitablefasteners 29 and the collar 27 is carried on the shaft housing 15 ofmotor 16.

Also secured on top of tube 11 is a rudder 28 which when handle 28 isrotated will aid in steering the boat 28".

Looking now at FIG. 4 of the drawing, one will see a modified version oftubular thrust propeller 10, the air intake tube 22 being omitted, theoperation being similar to that o 11 end 14. The drive shaft housing 15'extends into tube 1 and the propeller 21 extends rearwards in a wellknown manner.

A lug 25' is secured to rod 26 by means of fastener 29' and affixed tothe top of tube 11 is a rudder 28. An air intake tube 22 extendsdownward into the conical end 13 of tube 11 and water is introduced intoscoops 12, one of which is shown.

It shall further be noted that the scoops 12 shown in FIG. 1, may beomitted as the conical end 13 maybe of wire mesh to allow for theentrance of water into the tube 11.

It shall further be noted that the heretofore described assemblies maybe adapted to inboard engine powered craft and the propeller 21 may beomitted and the use of an elongated auger type propeller may be used inits place.

What I claim is:

1. A tubular thrust propeller apparatus comprising a hollow conical kittube, scoop means carried by said tube for the introduction of waterinto said tube, a bevel drive gear carried by said apparatus andpropeller shaft means carried within said tube for driving a boat,rudder means carried by said tube providing steering means for saidboat, lug, collar and rod means carried by said apparatus providingstability for said tube of said apparatus, air intake tube means carriedby said apparatus for introducing air into said tube and bracket meansfor supporting said propeller shaft.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said tube of saidapparatus includes a conical end, said conical end providing guard meansagainst obstructions when said boat is being propelled forward and wateris taken into scoops oppositely opposed on the exterior of said tubewhen the motor of said boat is put in gear when propeller islongitudinal within said tube andsaid propeller is secured to said shaftrearwardly of said water intake scoops and a bevel gear secured to saidpropeller shaft engages a similar bevel gear secured to the drive shaftof said motor, said tube provides enclosure means for said propeller andprotects it from obstructions.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said boat saidapparatus is attached to is steered by means of a vertical rudder, saidvertical rudder being secured to the top of said tube rearwardly of saidmotors drive shaft housing and air tube means extends partially downinto said tube of said apparatus said air intaketube having aperturemeans for the entrance of air above the water line.

4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein collar means carried bysaid motor shaft housing extends above said rudder and said tube and rodmeans carried by said collar is secured to a lug extending from the rearend of said tube, said lug, rod and collar carrying suitable fasteners,the combination serving to stabilize said tube of said apparatus whensaid motor is in operation.

5. The combination according to claim 4, wherein motor shaft housing issecured to the top of said tube forwardly of said rudder of saidapparatus and said propeller shaft is supported longitudinally withinsaid tube by means of a pair of radial shaft supports, said shaftsupports being secured fixedly to the inner periphery of said tube ofsaid apparatus.

1. A tubular thrust propeller apparatus comprising a hollow conical kittube, scoop means carried by said tube for the introduction of waterinto said tube, a bevel drive gear carried by said apparatus andpropeller shaft means carried within said tube for driving a boat,rudder means carried by said tube providing steering means for saidboat, lug, collar and rod means carried by said apparatus providingstability for said tube of said apparatus, air intake tube means carriedby said apparatus for introducing air into said tube and bracket meansfor supporting said propeller shaft.
 2. The combination according toclaim 1, wherein said tube of said apparatus includes a conical end,said conical end providing guard means against obstructions when saidboat is being propelled forward and water is taken into scoopsoppositely opposed on the exterior of said tube when the motor of saidboat is put in gear when propeller is longitudinal within said tube andsaid propeller is secured to said shaft rearwardly of said water intakescoops and a bevel gear secured to said propeller shaft engages asimilar bevel gear secured to the drive shaft of said motor, said tubeprovides enclosure means for said propeller and protects it fromobstructions.
 3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said boatsaid apparatus is attached to is steered by means of a vertical rudder,said vertical rudder being secured to the top of said tube rearwardly ofsaid motor''s drive shaft housing and air tube means extends partiallydown into said tube of said apparatus said air intake tube havingaperture means for the entrance of air above the water line.
 4. Thecombination according to claim 3, wherein collar means carried by saidmotor shaft housing extends above said rudder and said tube and rodmeans carried by said collar is secured to a lug extending from the rearend of said tube, said lug, rod and collar carrying suitable fasteners,the combination serving to stabilize said tube of said apparatus whensaid motor is in operation.
 5. The combination according to claim 4,wherein motor shaft housing is secured to the top of said tube forwardlyof said rudder of said apparatus and said propeller shaft is supportedlongitudinally within said tube by means of a pair of radial shaftsupports, said shaft supports being secured fixedly to the innerperiphery of said tube of said apparatus.